A bird's eye view from the terrace: Ask not what your province can do for you...

Was in the Pav in Trinity at about 5.30 yesterday when all of a sudden an almighty clatter goes up from Nassau street. Look up and the full length of Nassau is ASM flags and banners. Unbelievable... By miles and miles the best away support ever in the RDS - blaker

Brilliant crowd, really made their presence felt. - Terraceman

Unreal fans. Defo want to get to one of their home games one day - Scott

Best atmosphere I've been at at the RDS. That includes us thumping Munster 30-0 - random punter

Leinsterfans, April 2010

After the visit of Clermont to the RDS earlier this year those who travelled to Stade Marcel Michelin last weekend knew they were in for an experience, but I doubt any Leinster fan expected just how intense that atmosphere would be. We have all admired those areas in away grounds from where the noise and atmosphere seems to emanate - the supporters stand in Toulouse, the promenade in Ulster and the shed in Gloucester to name but a few. But in rugby grounds the world over I have never seen anything quite like what we witnessed last Sunday. There was no core - no one trigger point for the songs and chants. Every single person in that crowd jumped, sang, chanted and waved their colours. Every man, woman and child, from the touchline to the corporate boxes, gave it their all. The stands were quite literally moving with the crowd.

Is it a good thing that we've moved this match from the D4tress that is the RDS? That, my fellow fans, is entirely up to us. On Saturday, Lansdowne road is our home and it is up to us to make sure everyone knows it. It is unavoidable, given the size compared to the RDS, that there will be big match fans and day-trippers. We have to turn this to our advantage - we will have the numbers - it's our job to make sure we bring them with us. Given the issues that we've had with ticketing, many people who are usually together and feed off each other will be scattered - but again, we've got to use this to our advantage. It is time to put any and all issues to one side and get behind our team. If someone starts a song or chant near you back them up - if there's a lull start your own. MAKE NOISE. The players will leave nothing on the pitch - we should leave nothing in the stands - except our voices! GIVE YOUR ALL!

This game is critical to our European season. Our team are at the halfway point of their HEC pool 2 back to backs with the Champions of France. A team many regard as the best in Europe. What we fans need to be aware of is that we are also coming up against some of the best in Europe - the fans of Clermont Auvergne. It is expected that over 1,000 will travel - they will bring colour, they will bring passion and they will bring noise. We need to be ready - from the moment those teams take to the pitch we need to let both sides know who's at home. Be blue. Wear your colours, sing your songs and wave your flags. Let's bring the spirit of the Donnybrook terrace and the south stand of the Stoop to every corner of Lansdowne road and in the words of Scroobius Pip - Thou shalt always KKKKIIIIILLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!!!!!!

by Yvonne Kelly, © 2010-12-15